ie,
That _England_ beares no Dukes.
That _England_ beares no Dukes.
Ben Jonson - The Devil's Association
patch it.
Sir,
_He turnes to_ Fitz-dottrel.
You are a Gentleman of a good pre? ence,
A hand? ome man (I haue con? idered you)
As a fit ? tocke to graft honours vpon: 25
I haue a proiect to make you a _Duke_, now.
That you mu? t be one, within ? o many moneths,
As I ? et downe, out of true rea? on of ? tate,
You ? ha' not auoyd it. But you mu? t harken, then.
ING. Harken? why S^r, do you doubt his eares? Alas! 30
You doe not know Ma? ter _Fitz-dottrel_.
FIT. He do's not know me indeed. I thank you, _Ingine_,
For rectifying him.
MER. Good! Why, _Ingine_, then
_He turnes to_ Ingine.
I'le tell it you. (I see you ha' credit, here,
And, that you can keepe coun? ell, I'll not que? tion. ) 35
Hee ? hall but be an vndertaker with mee,
In a mo? t fea? ible bus'ne? ? e. It shall cost him
Nothing.
ING. Good, S^r.
MER. Except he plea? e, but's count'nance;
(That I will haue) t'appeare in't, to great men,
For which I'll make him one. Hee ? hall not draw 40
A ? tring of's pur? e. I'll driue his pattent for him.
We'll take in Cittizens, _Commoners_, and _Aldermen_,
To beare the charge, and blow 'hem off againe,
Like ? o many dead flyes, when 'tis carryed.
The thing is for recouery of drown'd land, 45
Whereof the _Crowne's_ to haue his moiety,
If it be owner; El? e, the _Crowne_ and Owners
To ? hare that moyety: and the recouerers
T'enioy the tother moyety, for their charge.
ING. Thorowout _England_?
MER. Yes, which will ari? e 50
To eyghteene _millions_, ? euen the fir? t yeere:
I haue computed all, and made my ? uruay
Vnto an acre. I'll beginne at the Pan,
Not, at the skirts: as ? ome ha' done, and lo? t,
All that they wrought, their timber-worke, their trench, 55
Their bankes all borne away, or el? e fill'd vp
By the next winter. Tut, they neuer went
The way: I'll haue it all.
ING. A gallant tract
Of land it is!
MER. 'Twill yeeld a pound an acre.
Wee mu? t let cheape, euer, at fir? t. But Sir, 60
This lookes too large for you, I ? ee. Come hither,
We'll haue a le? ? e. Here's a plain fellow, you ? ee him,
Has his black bag of papers, there, in Buckram,
Wi' not be ? old for th'Earledome of _Pancridge_: Draw,
Gi' me out one, by chance. Proiect. 4. _Dog-skinnes? _ 65
Twelue thou? and pound! the very wor? t, at fir? t. [113]
FIT. Pray, you let's ? ee't Sir.
MER. 'Tis a toy, a trifle!
FIT. Trifle! 12. thou? and pound for dogs-skins?
MER. Yes,
But, by my way of dre? ? ing, you mu? t know, Sir,
And med'cining the leather, to a height 70
Of improu'd ware, like your _Borachio_
Of _Spaine_, Sir. I can fetch nine thou? and for't--
ING. Of the Kings glouer?
MER. Yes, how heard you that?
ING. Sir, I doe know you can.
MER. Within this houre:
And re? erue halfe my ? ecret. Pluck another; 75
See if thou ha? t a happier hand: I thought ? o.
_Hee pluckes out the 2. Bottle-ale. _
The very next wor? e to it! Bottle-ale.
Yet, this is two and twenty thou? and! Pr'y thee
Pull out another, two or three.
FIT. Good, ? tay, friend,
By bottle-ale, two and twenty thou? and pound? 80
MER. Yes, Sir, it's ca? t to penny-hal'penny-farthing,
O' the back-? ide, there you may ? ee it, read,
I will not bate a _Harrington_ o' the ? umme.
I'll winne it i' my water, and my malt,
My furnaces, and hanging o' my coppers, 85
The tonning, and the ? ubtilty o' my ye? t;
And, then the earth of my bottles, which I dig,
Turne vp, and ? teepe, and worke, and neale, my ? elfe,
To a degree of _Porc'lane_. You will wonder,
At my proportions, what I will put vp 90
In ? euen yeeres! for ? o long time, I aske
For my inuention. I will ? aue in cork,
In my mere ? top'ling, 'boue three thou? and pound,
Within that terme: by googing of 'hem out
Iu? t to the ? ize of my bottles, and not ? licing, 95
There's infinite lo? ? e i' that. What ha? t thou there?
O' making wine of rai? ins: this is in hand, now,
_Hee drawes out another_. Rai? ines.
ING. Is not that ? trange, S^r, to make wine of rai? ins?
MER. Yes, and as true a wine, as the wines of _France_,
Or _Spaine_, or _Italy_, Looke of what grape 100
My rai? in is, that wine I'll render perfect,
As of the _mu? catell_ grape, I'll render _mu? catell_;
Of the _Canary_, his; the _Claret_, his;
So of all kinds: and bate you of the prices,
Of wine, throughout the kingdome, halfe in halfe. 105
ING. But, how, S^r, if you rai? e the other commodity, Ray? ins?
MER. Why, then I'll make it out of blackberries:
And it ? hall doe the ? ame. 'Tis but more art,
And the charge le? ? e. Take out another.
FIT. No, good Sir.
Saue you the trouble, I'le not looke, nor heare 110
Of any, but your fir? t, there; the _Drown'd-land_:
If't will doe, as you ? ay.
MER. Sir, there's not place,
To gi' you demon? tration of the? e things. [114]
They are a little to ? ubtle. But, I could ? hew you
Such a nece? ? ity in't, as you mu? t be 115
But what you plea? e: again? t the receiu'd here?
ie,
That _England_ beares no Dukes. Keepe you the land, S^r,
The greatne? ? e of th' e? tate ? hall throw't vpon you.
If you like better turning it to money,
What may not you, S^r, purcha? e with that wealth? 120
Say, you ? hould part with two o' your millions,
To be the thing you would, who would not do't?
As I prote? t, I will, out of my diuident,
Lay, for ? ome pretty principality,
In _Italy_, from the Church: Now, you perhaps, 125
Fancy the ? moake of _England_, rather? But--
Ha' you no priuate roome, Sir, to draw to,
T'enlarge our ? elues more vpon.
FIT. O yes, _Diuell_!
MER. The? e, Sir, are bus'ne? ? es, aske to be carryed
With caution, and in cloud.
FIT. I apprehend, 130
They doe ? o, S^r. _Diuell_, which way is your Mi? tre? ? e?
PVG. Aboue, S^r. in her chamber.
FIT. O that's well.
Then, this way, good, Sir.
MER. I ? hall follow you; _Traines_,
Gi' mee the bag, and goe you pre? ently,
Commend my ? eruice to my Lady _Tail-bu? h_. 135
Tell her I am come from Court this morning; ? ay,
I'haue got our bus'ne? ? e mou'd, and well: Intreat her,
That ? hee giue you the four-? core Angels, and ? ee 'hem
Di? pos'd of to my Councel, Sir _Poul Eyther? ide_.
Sometime, to day, I'll waite vpon her Ladi? hip, 140
With the relation.
ING. Sir, of what di? patch,
He is! Do you marke?
MER. _Ingine_, when did you ? ee
My cou? in _Euer-ill_? keepes he ? till your quarter?
I' the _Bermudas_?
ING. Yes, Sir, he was writing
This morning, very hard.
MER. Be not you knowne to him,
That I am come to Towne: I haue effected 146
A bu? ine? ? e for him, but I would haue it take him,
Before he thinks for't.
ING. Is it pa? t?
MER. Not yet.
'Tis well o' the way.
ING. O Sir! your wor? hip takes
Infinit paines.
MER. I loue Friends, to be actiue: 150
A ? luggish nature puts off man, and kinde.
ING. And ? uch a ble? ? ing followes it.
MER. I thanke
My fate. Pray you let's be priuate, Sir?
FIT. In, here.
MER. Where none may interrupt vs.
FIT. You heare, _Diuel_,
Lock the ? treete-doores fa? t, and let no one in 155
(Except they be this Gentlemans followers)
To trouble mee. Doe you marke? Yo' haue heard and ? eene
Something, to day; and, by it, you may gather
Your Mi? tre? ? e is a fruite, that's worth the ? tealing
And therefore worth the watching. Be you ? ure, now [115]
Yo' haue all your eyes about you; and let in 161
No lace-woman; nor bawd, that brings French-ma? ques,
And cut-works. See you? Nor old croanes, with wafers,
To conuey letters. Nor no youths, di? guis'd
Like country-wiues, with creame, and marrow-puddings. 165
Much knauery may be vented in a pudding,
Much bawdy intelligence: They'are ? hrewd ciphers.
Nor turne the key to any neyghbours neede;
Be't but to kindle fire, or begg a little,
Put it out, rather: all out, to an a? he, 170
That they may ? ee no ? moake. Or water, ? pill it:
Knock o' the empty tubs, that by the ? ound,
They may be forbid entry. Say, wee are robb'd,
If any come to borrow a ? poone, or ? o.
I wi' not haue good fortune, or gods ble? ? ing 175
Let in, while I am bu? ie.
PVG. I'le take care, Sir:
They ? ha' not trouble you, if they would.
FIT. Well, doe ? o.
[265] SD. MEER. . . . ] _A Room in_ Fitzdottrel's _House.
Enter_ FITZDOTTREL, ENGINE, _and_ MEERCRAFT, _followed by_
TRAINS _with a bag, and three or four Attendants_. G
[266] 1 's] is G
[267] 10 SN. _To_ . . . ] [_To 1 Attendant. _] G
[268] 12 done. [_Exit 1 Attend. _] G
[269] 14 employ W, G
[270] 15 How, talks] How talks 1716, f.
[271] 17 SN. ] [_To 2 Attendant. _] [_Exit 2 Atten. _ G || talke]
take 1641, 1716, f.
[272] 18 _Myriads_ 1716 Myriads W myriads G
[273] 20 SN. om. 1641, 1692. 1716, W [_to 3 Atten. _] G || M^r. ]
master G passim
[274] 22 it. [_Exit 3 Atten. _] G || SN. om. 1641, f.
[275] 24 () om. W
[276] 28 reasons G
[277] 29 sha'] shall G
[278] 33 SN. om. 1641. f.
[279] 34 it om. 1641
[280] 34, 35, 39 () ret. G
[281] 44 'tis] it is G
[282] 46 his] a 1641, f.
[283] 50 Throughout 1641, 1692, 1716, W Thoroughout G
[284] 53 an] my 1692, f.
[285] 62 fellow, [_points to Trains_] G
[286] 64 Wi'] Will W, G
[287] 65 chance. [_Trains gives him a paper out of the bag. _] G ||
Project; foure 1641 Project: four 1692, 1716 Project four; W Project
four: G || Dog-skinnes] dogs-skins 1641 Dogs Skins 1692, 1716 dogs
skins W Dogs' skins G
[288] 67 see't] see it G
[289] 68 MER. Yes,] included in line 69 1692, 1716, W
[290] 69 my om. 1641
[291] 76 SN. _Hee_ . . . ] [_Trains draws out another. _]
(after 'hand:' 76) G
[292] 78 Pr'y thee] Pry'thee W Prithee G
[293] 78-80 Pr'y thee--pound? om. 1692, 1716
[294] 81 hal'] half G
[295] 89 Proc'lane 1641 porcelane G
[296] 93 above G
[297] 97 O'] O! G || SN. ] [_Trains draws out another. _] G
[298] 99 a om. 1641
[299] 103 Of the] Of 1641
[300] 114 subtile 1692, 1716, W
[301] 115 in't] in it G
[302] 123 Dividend 1716 dividend W, G
[303] 124 petty 1692, 1716, W
[304] 131 so om. G sir. --_Enter_ PUG. G
[305] 137 entreat W, G
[306] 141 relation. [_Exit Trains. _ G
[307] 142 mark? [_Aside to Fitz. _ G
[308] 150 love] love, 1716, W
[309] 154 us. [_Exeunt Meer. and Engine. _ G
[310] 157, 161 Yo'haue] You've 1716, W
[311] 169 't] it G
[312] 175 will G? good fortune, gods blessing] G capitalizes throughout.
_He turnes to_ Fitz-dottrel.
You are a Gentleman of a good pre? ence,
A hand? ome man (I haue con? idered you)
As a fit ? tocke to graft honours vpon: 25
I haue a proiect to make you a _Duke_, now.
That you mu? t be one, within ? o many moneths,
As I ? et downe, out of true rea? on of ? tate,
You ? ha' not auoyd it. But you mu? t harken, then.
ING. Harken? why S^r, do you doubt his eares? Alas! 30
You doe not know Ma? ter _Fitz-dottrel_.
FIT. He do's not know me indeed. I thank you, _Ingine_,
For rectifying him.
MER. Good! Why, _Ingine_, then
_He turnes to_ Ingine.
I'le tell it you. (I see you ha' credit, here,
And, that you can keepe coun? ell, I'll not que? tion. ) 35
Hee ? hall but be an vndertaker with mee,
In a mo? t fea? ible bus'ne? ? e. It shall cost him
Nothing.
ING. Good, S^r.
MER. Except he plea? e, but's count'nance;
(That I will haue) t'appeare in't, to great men,
For which I'll make him one. Hee ? hall not draw 40
A ? tring of's pur? e. I'll driue his pattent for him.
We'll take in Cittizens, _Commoners_, and _Aldermen_,
To beare the charge, and blow 'hem off againe,
Like ? o many dead flyes, when 'tis carryed.
The thing is for recouery of drown'd land, 45
Whereof the _Crowne's_ to haue his moiety,
If it be owner; El? e, the _Crowne_ and Owners
To ? hare that moyety: and the recouerers
T'enioy the tother moyety, for their charge.
ING. Thorowout _England_?
MER. Yes, which will ari? e 50
To eyghteene _millions_, ? euen the fir? t yeere:
I haue computed all, and made my ? uruay
Vnto an acre. I'll beginne at the Pan,
Not, at the skirts: as ? ome ha' done, and lo? t,
All that they wrought, their timber-worke, their trench, 55
Their bankes all borne away, or el? e fill'd vp
By the next winter. Tut, they neuer went
The way: I'll haue it all.
ING. A gallant tract
Of land it is!
MER. 'Twill yeeld a pound an acre.
Wee mu? t let cheape, euer, at fir? t. But Sir, 60
This lookes too large for you, I ? ee. Come hither,
We'll haue a le? ? e. Here's a plain fellow, you ? ee him,
Has his black bag of papers, there, in Buckram,
Wi' not be ? old for th'Earledome of _Pancridge_: Draw,
Gi' me out one, by chance. Proiect. 4. _Dog-skinnes? _ 65
Twelue thou? and pound! the very wor? t, at fir? t. [113]
FIT. Pray, you let's ? ee't Sir.
MER. 'Tis a toy, a trifle!
FIT. Trifle! 12. thou? and pound for dogs-skins?
MER. Yes,
But, by my way of dre? ? ing, you mu? t know, Sir,
And med'cining the leather, to a height 70
Of improu'd ware, like your _Borachio_
Of _Spaine_, Sir. I can fetch nine thou? and for't--
ING. Of the Kings glouer?
MER. Yes, how heard you that?
ING. Sir, I doe know you can.
MER. Within this houre:
And re? erue halfe my ? ecret. Pluck another; 75
See if thou ha? t a happier hand: I thought ? o.
_Hee pluckes out the 2. Bottle-ale. _
The very next wor? e to it! Bottle-ale.
Yet, this is two and twenty thou? and! Pr'y thee
Pull out another, two or three.
FIT. Good, ? tay, friend,
By bottle-ale, two and twenty thou? and pound? 80
MER. Yes, Sir, it's ca? t to penny-hal'penny-farthing,
O' the back-? ide, there you may ? ee it, read,
I will not bate a _Harrington_ o' the ? umme.
I'll winne it i' my water, and my malt,
My furnaces, and hanging o' my coppers, 85
The tonning, and the ? ubtilty o' my ye? t;
And, then the earth of my bottles, which I dig,
Turne vp, and ? teepe, and worke, and neale, my ? elfe,
To a degree of _Porc'lane_. You will wonder,
At my proportions, what I will put vp 90
In ? euen yeeres! for ? o long time, I aske
For my inuention. I will ? aue in cork,
In my mere ? top'ling, 'boue three thou? and pound,
Within that terme: by googing of 'hem out
Iu? t to the ? ize of my bottles, and not ? licing, 95
There's infinite lo? ? e i' that. What ha? t thou there?
O' making wine of rai? ins: this is in hand, now,
_Hee drawes out another_. Rai? ines.
ING. Is not that ? trange, S^r, to make wine of rai? ins?
MER. Yes, and as true a wine, as the wines of _France_,
Or _Spaine_, or _Italy_, Looke of what grape 100
My rai? in is, that wine I'll render perfect,
As of the _mu? catell_ grape, I'll render _mu? catell_;
Of the _Canary_, his; the _Claret_, his;
So of all kinds: and bate you of the prices,
Of wine, throughout the kingdome, halfe in halfe. 105
ING. But, how, S^r, if you rai? e the other commodity, Ray? ins?
MER. Why, then I'll make it out of blackberries:
And it ? hall doe the ? ame. 'Tis but more art,
And the charge le? ? e. Take out another.
FIT. No, good Sir.
Saue you the trouble, I'le not looke, nor heare 110
Of any, but your fir? t, there; the _Drown'd-land_:
If't will doe, as you ? ay.
MER. Sir, there's not place,
To gi' you demon? tration of the? e things. [114]
They are a little to ? ubtle. But, I could ? hew you
Such a nece? ? ity in't, as you mu? t be 115
But what you plea? e: again? t the receiu'd here?
ie,
That _England_ beares no Dukes. Keepe you the land, S^r,
The greatne? ? e of th' e? tate ? hall throw't vpon you.
If you like better turning it to money,
What may not you, S^r, purcha? e with that wealth? 120
Say, you ? hould part with two o' your millions,
To be the thing you would, who would not do't?
As I prote? t, I will, out of my diuident,
Lay, for ? ome pretty principality,
In _Italy_, from the Church: Now, you perhaps, 125
Fancy the ? moake of _England_, rather? But--
Ha' you no priuate roome, Sir, to draw to,
T'enlarge our ? elues more vpon.
FIT. O yes, _Diuell_!
MER. The? e, Sir, are bus'ne? ? es, aske to be carryed
With caution, and in cloud.
FIT. I apprehend, 130
They doe ? o, S^r. _Diuell_, which way is your Mi? tre? ? e?
PVG. Aboue, S^r. in her chamber.
FIT. O that's well.
Then, this way, good, Sir.
MER. I ? hall follow you; _Traines_,
Gi' mee the bag, and goe you pre? ently,
Commend my ? eruice to my Lady _Tail-bu? h_. 135
Tell her I am come from Court this morning; ? ay,
I'haue got our bus'ne? ? e mou'd, and well: Intreat her,
That ? hee giue you the four-? core Angels, and ? ee 'hem
Di? pos'd of to my Councel, Sir _Poul Eyther? ide_.
Sometime, to day, I'll waite vpon her Ladi? hip, 140
With the relation.
ING. Sir, of what di? patch,
He is! Do you marke?
MER. _Ingine_, when did you ? ee
My cou? in _Euer-ill_? keepes he ? till your quarter?
I' the _Bermudas_?
ING. Yes, Sir, he was writing
This morning, very hard.
MER. Be not you knowne to him,
That I am come to Towne: I haue effected 146
A bu? ine? ? e for him, but I would haue it take him,
Before he thinks for't.
ING. Is it pa? t?
MER. Not yet.
'Tis well o' the way.
ING. O Sir! your wor? hip takes
Infinit paines.
MER. I loue Friends, to be actiue: 150
A ? luggish nature puts off man, and kinde.
ING. And ? uch a ble? ? ing followes it.
MER. I thanke
My fate. Pray you let's be priuate, Sir?
FIT. In, here.
MER. Where none may interrupt vs.
FIT. You heare, _Diuel_,
Lock the ? treete-doores fa? t, and let no one in 155
(Except they be this Gentlemans followers)
To trouble mee. Doe you marke? Yo' haue heard and ? eene
Something, to day; and, by it, you may gather
Your Mi? tre? ? e is a fruite, that's worth the ? tealing
And therefore worth the watching. Be you ? ure, now [115]
Yo' haue all your eyes about you; and let in 161
No lace-woman; nor bawd, that brings French-ma? ques,
And cut-works. See you? Nor old croanes, with wafers,
To conuey letters. Nor no youths, di? guis'd
Like country-wiues, with creame, and marrow-puddings. 165
Much knauery may be vented in a pudding,
Much bawdy intelligence: They'are ? hrewd ciphers.
Nor turne the key to any neyghbours neede;
Be't but to kindle fire, or begg a little,
Put it out, rather: all out, to an a? he, 170
That they may ? ee no ? moake. Or water, ? pill it:
Knock o' the empty tubs, that by the ? ound,
They may be forbid entry. Say, wee are robb'd,
If any come to borrow a ? poone, or ? o.
I wi' not haue good fortune, or gods ble? ? ing 175
Let in, while I am bu? ie.
PVG. I'le take care, Sir:
They ? ha' not trouble you, if they would.
FIT. Well, doe ? o.
[265] SD. MEER. . . . ] _A Room in_ Fitzdottrel's _House.
Enter_ FITZDOTTREL, ENGINE, _and_ MEERCRAFT, _followed by_
TRAINS _with a bag, and three or four Attendants_. G
[266] 1 's] is G
[267] 10 SN. _To_ . . . ] [_To 1 Attendant. _] G
[268] 12 done. [_Exit 1 Attend. _] G
[269] 14 employ W, G
[270] 15 How, talks] How talks 1716, f.
[271] 17 SN. ] [_To 2 Attendant. _] [_Exit 2 Atten. _ G || talke]
take 1641, 1716, f.
[272] 18 _Myriads_ 1716 Myriads W myriads G
[273] 20 SN. om. 1641, 1692. 1716, W [_to 3 Atten. _] G || M^r. ]
master G passim
[274] 22 it. [_Exit 3 Atten. _] G || SN. om. 1641, f.
[275] 24 () om. W
[276] 28 reasons G
[277] 29 sha'] shall G
[278] 33 SN. om. 1641. f.
[279] 34 it om. 1641
[280] 34, 35, 39 () ret. G
[281] 44 'tis] it is G
[282] 46 his] a 1641, f.
[283] 50 Throughout 1641, 1692, 1716, W Thoroughout G
[284] 53 an] my 1692, f.
[285] 62 fellow, [_points to Trains_] G
[286] 64 Wi'] Will W, G
[287] 65 chance. [_Trains gives him a paper out of the bag. _] G ||
Project; foure 1641 Project: four 1692, 1716 Project four; W Project
four: G || Dog-skinnes] dogs-skins 1641 Dogs Skins 1692, 1716 dogs
skins W Dogs' skins G
[288] 67 see't] see it G
[289] 68 MER. Yes,] included in line 69 1692, 1716, W
[290] 69 my om. 1641
[291] 76 SN. _Hee_ . . . ] [_Trains draws out another. _]
(after 'hand:' 76) G
[292] 78 Pr'y thee] Pry'thee W Prithee G
[293] 78-80 Pr'y thee--pound? om. 1692, 1716
[294] 81 hal'] half G
[295] 89 Proc'lane 1641 porcelane G
[296] 93 above G
[297] 97 O'] O! G || SN. ] [_Trains draws out another. _] G
[298] 99 a om. 1641
[299] 103 Of the] Of 1641
[300] 114 subtile 1692, 1716, W
[301] 115 in't] in it G
[302] 123 Dividend 1716 dividend W, G
[303] 124 petty 1692, 1716, W
[304] 131 so om. G sir. --_Enter_ PUG. G
[305] 137 entreat W, G
[306] 141 relation. [_Exit Trains. _ G
[307] 142 mark? [_Aside to Fitz. _ G
[308] 150 love] love, 1716, W
[309] 154 us. [_Exeunt Meer. and Engine. _ G
[310] 157, 161 Yo'haue] You've 1716, W
[311] 169 't] it G
[312] 175 will G? good fortune, gods blessing] G capitalizes throughout.
